PEEBLES Rovers have resigned from the East of Scotland Football League.
The club made the sad announcement last night (April 17) having been unable to come to a resolution around the necessary ground requirements that initially saw them step away last summer.
Rovers have been playing at their picturesque Whitestone Park ground for more than a century but were informed that it no longer met the East of Scotland Football League's criteria due to there not being a perimeter fence.
Options including developing the ground, moving to a new location, and ground-sharing with Peebles Rugby Club were all unsuccessful, leaving the club with no option but to tender their resignation from the league.
However, the club insists they are not folding as they look to explore other avenues to remain in the game.
A club statement issued on Friday night read: "It is with great disappointment that we had this evening had to tender our resignation from the East of Scotland Football League.
"With no leeway being given on the requirement for a permanent perimeter fence, and with the proposed costings completely prohibitive, we have been left with nowhere to turn to preserve the short term future of Peebles Rovers.
"Please note, we are not folding the club, we intend to continue to look into every and any possible avenue to come back stronger and sustainable in the future, a move which will be in conjunction with Peebles FC to ensure a full football pathway in the town.
"It is hugely disappointing that, as a club that supported and kept the East of Scotland League alive back in 2016/17 when others were defecting to the Junior FA ranks leaving a mere 11 clubs in the league, that we are now being forced out of existence, for now.
"We will be releasing a wide-ranging statement in due course which, amongst other things, will highlight those that have reached out to lend their support, those that have sadly taken advantage of our predicament and those that failed to deliver on promises.
"We will try to thank as many businesses and individuals as possible in our wider communication but, for now, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of our sponsors, players and committee members who have made running the club possible through a very tough period."
